An unassuming, mild-mannered man walks into a library and slowly, methodically, with grace and much humor transforms himself from your everyday man in to a clown. For the love of all things sacred! I don’t even like clowns (except for Bill Irwin because.. well, he’s awesome), why on earth am I willingly subjecting myself to this clown at the library? Because I have kids and I will do just about anything to kill time edu-tain them, so at the suggestion of a friend I go to see Boswick the Clown, expecting my kids to have a good time and having a good time watching them have a good time.
Being an open-minded, opinionated person, set in my ways. I figured I would suffer through this clown (that’s the open-minded part), but I certainly wouldn’t enjoy it. Shows what I know. I enjoyed it so much I approached Boswick afterward and asked if I could feature him on my blog and he said YES!
I asked, the man behind Boswick to introduce himself to you and tell us why in a world so full of anti-clown sentiment, he would choose to don a red nose. Here’s his response:
Just by way of introduction; My name is David. I’ve worked as Boswick the Clown for the last 24 years. After getting my acting degree from Emerson College in Boston, I journeyed to Ringling Brothers Clown College and was molded into a Ringling Brothers Clown. It’s been an adventure taking me around the world and into living rooms in mansions and tenement projects.
I make a living as a clown, I make my living as an entertainer. My audience is (on average) about 6 years old.
I’ve had lots of opportunities to perform for adults. Yes, I’ve done stand up comedy, I’ve done solo magic shows, I’ve been in plays, commercials and movies. I even did a one man play about turning 40 called “Objects in the Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear” About a man reflecting on middle age. It was funny but mostly moving (I was going for funny and ended up making people cry…go figure).
Through all this, I’ve always returned to performing for children, pretty young children at that. I’m very passionate about children, I study their development and am endlessly fascinated with what makes a child laugh.
Here’s the thing about performing for children. Children don’t judge, if they don’t like something they leave. Children can take an empty box and play for hours, I have to be a lot funnier than a cardboard box.
Children are fully functioning humans, there is no place they have to be, they are whole and complete. Children are mostly thought of as mini adults.
If you look at children they pretend, they play, they act out fantasy…um reminds me of the theatre. Yet, we ignore this, there is not a lot of live entertainment specifically for children. Luckily I took a vow of poverty, so I’m happy performing for the youngest of our society.
There’s lots of talk about what a shame it is we don’t support art in the schools. The secret message, we need more visual arts, more music, more dance. Would a 3rd grade teacher tolerate my pulling kids out of class so they can act like kittens, dogs and elephants? Looks pretty silly to an adult. Yet, this stimulates their imaginations, children become better readers, better students, better citizens.
But that’s a lot of academic mumbo jumbo…I mean, I’m a clown, I shouldn’t think so hard. My goal is to bring children to peels of laughter. I get kids wetting their pants from laughing too hard. I may have to think about pulling my comedy back a bit or keep handiwipes in my clown trunk.
I focus on making kids laugh, the adults are along for the ride. Adults will introduce theatre to children through “A Christmas Carol”. That’s fine but it’s a play for adults with children along for the ride. I’m opposite guy.
Come see Boswick the Clown, watch your kids laugh, you’ll laugh too, you can’t help it, laughter is infectious!
He’s right, laughter is infectious. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, I highly recommend you come and see A Goofy Holiday Show with Boswick the Clown (December 22, 23,26, & 27). Bring a kid and give them the gift of theatre! Use coupon code: “unknownmami” for 50% off.
Disclosure: I am telling you about Boswick because I really enjoyed his performance. That’s all. Just wanted to share.
“full of anti-clown sentiment” – yeah I’ve noticed that too. I blame Hollywood’s misuse of clowns as being evil. Just think what would people say if they took, oh say, step-moms and made them evil? Yeah evil step-moms, how do you like that?
Oh never mind I guess they did do that in a nursery rhyme.
Clown college – mom I want to go to clown college! I heard they were a few clowns short.
I think you and this clown would really hit it off.
Glad the clown worked out for you!
Wow, he sounds like a smart man…he may change my opinion of clowns, too.
Boswick sounds like one smart clown to me. I love his thoughts about live entertainment and performing for kids…..of course this comes from a stage-grandmom who can’t wait to see her granddaughter’s opening night in “Babes In Toyland” on Friday.
Boswick the Clown sounds absolutely delightful. I hired a clown for my son’s birthday party some hundred years ago or so, and he was soooooo bad. The kids didn’t laugh, but rather wandered off in disinterest. My son cried every time the clown came near. Mom Fail for sure. I needed a Boswick!
Terri
It sounds like he’s so devoted to his craft. I’m glad that you and your kidlets were able to experience his performance.
I’m so glad you had an open mind! He is right: children need the opportunity to develope their imaginations. Don’t we all???? Thanks for the retweet the other day–I appreciate it.
Rosemary
Sounds wonderful. Wish I was nearby so I could see him. Sounds like a wonderful life being able to entertain children. Thanks for having him share his story.
Ack. FOILED! I’m not in the San Fran area…it sounds fun though!